The word 'solstice' derives from the Latin sol, meaning 'sun', and sistere - to 'stand still'.
Well Before Common Era began, common folk now called pagans gathered in
and around monuments of stone built to reveal seasonal secrets. Middle of
winter and at the right moment’s glance, what’d been a steadily darkening world
could actually be glimpsed turning reliably back toward life bringing light.
Among other things, these people danced. Also prayed for
clear skies in advance, one must suppose.
And when the gods saw fit to ignore their entreaties? They guessed, I guess.
The story of how we eventually got to making stained glass runs
long and is complex. Here’s that exhaustive history more or less officially told.
In any event, Common Era stained glass rose to preeminence
as church windows. Not only did those throw welcome light on what’d previously
been some pretty shadowy proceedings, natural light transmitted thorough
colored glass channeled light’s largely illusory colors direct to the
imaginative purpose of its maker.
For centuries thereafter those same church windows came
commonly framed in hard right-angled stone, not circles. That trend rose, faded,
then rose again, as trends will.
Late 18th century experiments in opalescent glass
staining broke through those rigid windows and modern art glass fell upon us,
no previous thematic restrictions need apply.
Puny human history aside, the significance of winter
solstice to life lived in northern climes remains utterly unchanged, as at that
moment a dark world turns inexorably back toward the light.
Every single time. Since before the human story began and forever
beyond that, besides.
This year, the perennial moment occurs on Sunday. Best
check you’re your local listings for exact times.
But be there or be square.
Because if precious light's renewed embrace isn't the right time to dance during such dark times as ours, when is?
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